VODICE - LOCAL AND TOURIST INFORMATION

Vodice

Vodice is a coastal town of 10 000 people, famous for its vibrancy and many fun activities. It is located in a wide bay, 11 km northwest from the town of Sibenik, in central Dalmatia. Vodice has recently collected many prizes: The Flower of Tourism Award, given to a town which invests in the constant improvement of its tourism, the title for the best Harbour in Croatia, as well as boasting a European Blue flag for its ecologically clean beaches. This small, very picturesque town has good restaurants, great nightlife, culture and history, kilometres of beaches and masses of sports and activities on offer.

Vodice by the sea

The name Vodice literally translates into "A place of small waters", thanks to wells and springs of drinking water around which a settlement has developed since the Iron Age. Today in the Vodice main square two old wells are preserved as a memento of the old times. Outside the town there is an ancient Roman site, where an important collection of Roman glassware and pottery has been found. The plentiful supply of drinking water enabled people to settle in the area and develop agriculture such as growing olives, vines and the particularly famous large Marasca cherries.

Vodice in the evening

In addition to some wonderful beaches and the charm of the old town, Vodice is well placed to provide excellent all-round holiday. It is excellent for water sports such as surfing, kayaking, stand-up pedalling, sailing, day and night scuba diving and fantastic swimming. Srima beach is particularly suited for children with facilities such as the children's train, trampolines, air castles and roundabouts. Diving and sailing schools are organised during summer. Other activities and attractions include paddle boats, volleyball, tennis, jet-ski, indoor soccer, parasailing, banana boat ride, waterslide, water skiing, mini golf, table tennis, badminton, children's amusement park, inflatable iceberg and sea-playground.

Vodice town

Around Vodice there are all kinds of cycle paths, 100km of bike tracks, and training programmes for professionals and cycle tours. Also the famous XCO mountain bike track, Orlov Krug. Vodice has everything a cycling fan could want! There are organised Nordic hiking tours that will take you through some of the most beautiful parts of the Sibenik region - archaeological sites near Vodice, St. Anthony Channel in Sibenik and the Krka National Park. In Brodarica, 20 km from Vodice you will find the Pegasus Equestrian Club where you can go horseback riding. Vodice abounds with sporting grounds: tennis, football, handball and basketball courts. You can also play water polo, beach volleyball and bocce ball. Some other possibilities are water slide, jet ski, skydiving, parachuting, canoe safari on the Zrmanja River, photo safari on Velebit and kayaking to the island of Prvic.

Vodice at night

Vodice has plenty of music venues and a vibrant night life. You can hear music coming from the popular Hookah bar all day long, while the afternoon hours offer numerous after beach parties, such as foam parties, techno parties, Studio 54 and similar, all of which have hosted world famous DJs. Because of this, the Hangar beach is one of the most popular beaches, as well as the main gathering place for the young in Vodice. Hookah bar offers a rich nightlife, as well, which lasts long into the night, sometimes even until the early morning hours.

A wood boat moored in Vodice

Vodice harbour in the evening

Vodice is a starting point for many excursions. The most popular boat trips are to Krka National Park, and the islands of National Park Kornati. Coach trips to the historical cities of Split, Trogir, Dubrovnik can be made from Vodice.

Aerial shot of Vodice and the Marina

Pirovac

Pirovac is a small town midway between Zadar and Split and set in the centre of a 10 kilometre wide bay which enjoys a beneficial micro climate that makes the sea water a few degrees warmer than in the surrounding Adriatic. There are many beaches around the bay, notably Lolic Beach with shady pine trees along the beach and volleyball courts for public use. The beautiful coves of Sitnica, Vrulje, and Vrilo are valued for their pebbly beaches and clear sea. Of special attraction is the picturesque islet of Sustipanac, which can be reached by small boat from Pirovac and where you can relax and swim.

Pirovac by the sea

There are a good range of restaurants, bars, pizzerias, cafés and nightclubs in the town.

Zadar

Roman ruins and modern innovations in Zadar.

Zadar is the principal city in the region and a busy and lively Mediterranean coastal town with charming narrow streets and alleyways bustling with shops, cafes and restaurants.

Located on a peninsula surrounded by the gleaming Adriatic, it was once a Roman colony. Its main square, the Forum is an outdoor museum of Roman ruins. Historic sites include the city gates and fortress and in particular, the Byzanthium-influenced Cathedral of St Donat originating from the 9th Century is the finest example of Croatian architecture of the old Croatian period. The city has 30 churches all rich in architecture and art and worth visiting. Had it not been for the 72 bombing raids during WWII, the city would have historic architecture to rival Dubrovnik. Still, we're lucky it survives at all as post-war planners wanted to knock it all down. Sense prevailed and instead a brave new 'utopian' city was born incorporating 3000 years of Roman, Venetian and Slavic history.

Aside from historic architecture, the city features two contemporary art installations by local architect Nikola Bašić – the singing sea organ, a series of 35 underwater pipes that whistle as the waves wash through them, and the Sun Salutation, a solar-powered lighting installation.

Night Life

Zadar has a very lively night life with many restaurants, clubs and bars. It is the centre for music parties, and world famous DJs are frequent guests throughout the year. For lovers of classical music there are many concerts too. Famous music festivals take place in Petrcane Village just outside Zadar, "the New Ibiza", epicentre of cutting edge music. For those who enjoy classical music, Musical Evenings at St Donat Cathedral provide classical concerts in magical surroundings (Ticket office, telephone: +385 (0)23 314 552 or +385 (0)23 314 552).

Zadar

Church of St Donat

Getting there

Zadar has its own airport with direct flights from the UK and many European cities and is less than three hours' drive from Zagreb's international airport. Zadar has a regular ferry service connecting it to Ancona in Italy and local ferries link it to the islands of the Zadar Archipelago.

Sibenik

Sibenik is an important coastal city first established in the Byzantine period and later coming under Venetian control. Sibenik has a considerable cultural heritage and many fine buildings, notable being the Cathedral of St James, an important Renaissance monument from the 15th century. Sibenik is located on the banks of the wide but sheltered lower reaches of the Krka river from whence there is a narrow passage to the open sea.

Sibenik - Cathedralof St James

Sibenik is an excellent point from which to visit some of the nearby Kornati islands. Excursions are regularly organized to Krapanj, where traditionally the inhabitants have sponge divers, and to Zlarin, a small and delightful island with a population of 300 and a history extending back to the pre Roman era. Traditionally inhabitants of Zlarin were coral divers.